BURNSCO SPRING SERIES Race 8

This spring weather is certainly dishing up some fresh south-westerlies but Wednesday's was a good steady 30 knotter.
This was the one we were waiting for, I was anyway, a chance to pop a kite for a fast ride down the boulder bank, then a good slog home in conditions favouring the bigger heavier boats, C V?
Mistimed the start with the small (7 boat) Div 1 fleet all in front of us, as we sucked up dirty air, we picked up Future Feedback with a better lay line to the entrance,
Blackout lead out from McLoud, Redline, Wild Thing, C V, Future Feedback, Ballistic.
The reach from the harbour entrance to the Approach beacon was a procession as some of us set up downwind sails, FOR THE BIG RIDE?

We were the only Div 1 boat carrying full main so were quick on the reach but we had some catching up to do.
The run to Boulder North would be our chance, as not everyone was setting up for kites, around the beacon, pole up and hoist, we couldn't square the pole and the fractional kite was flapping and cracking, the bloody tack was hooked on the Pulpit? NO, turns out the brace is through the pulpit, Matt & Charlie try to free it but too much weight snapping at it with each crack of the kite, simple hook up the spare brace, we use for double sheet gybing in these conditions, but not run tonight?
Drop the bloody thing, no time to re-pack it so try fractional gennaka, up she went and we were off overtaking McLoud, and started catching Redline and Blackout, two wee moments 1st I fell of the helm against the lifelines pushed the tiller extension adjustment button sending C V into a potential Chinese gybe, but Knoxy saved the day by catching her in time while I regained my composure.
The next wee moment was when the mark was spotted ahead, fine in the port bow, as I looked ahead she started to round up, Knoxy on the gennaka sheet thought I was altering course for the mark until I yelled I had lost her and on our side we went.

We arrived at the mark with Redline without the "we'll show them how to fly a kite moment"in 3rd place and now had to reef for the upwind, we lost more ground slipping back to 4th as the 43 foot McLoud powered upwind loving the conditions, Future Feedback were now onto us.
Reef in we settled into the slog home, tacked onto starboard and the port car had moved back on the track now too much twist in the blade, tack back onto port just clearing Future Feedback on starboard but no closer to McLoud, Redline or Blackout.
The next tack on starboard was much better with the car reset, we got into the grove (Finally),
As a tanker was due to leave port the course was shortened to an outside finish which shortened our recovery time.
We crossed the line in 4th, 15 seconds behind Redline, with Blackout 1st, McLoud 2nd,
Future Feedback 5th

What a night? surprisingly though, we were 3rd on handicap? 1st McLoud, 2nd Redline, they both had  good races, we must have been best of the shockers?

8 of 11 races down in the series and the points are:-
Redline 25 points
Clear Vision, Future Feedback, Blackout all on 35 points

This weekends Tarakohe race cancelled due to bad forecast, we will be racing to Adel Island (20 miles) return on Saturday instead
Tarakohe rescheduled for next year now (march 21st)